Rotary steam-engine



(No M oooo r I 2 eeeeeeeeeeee 1.

T. E. JONES.

RRRRRRRR HAM ENGINE.

N0,29s,88.7 PatentdPeb.19.1884..-

(No-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TE, JONES. ROTARYSTBAM-ENGINE. No. 293,887. Pat-enteHFeb; 19,1884.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT 'QFFICE.

THOMAS E. JONES, on FAIRFIELD, IOWA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,887, dated February 19, 1884.

Application filed April 23, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. JoNEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the county of Jefferson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Rotary Steam-Engine, (which has not been patented to myself, or to others. with my consent or knowledge, in any country,)'of which the following isa specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in rotary steam-engines in which the machinery is driven by steam acting upon. floats, which pass around between an inner drum and an outside shell, and the object of my improvement is to regulate the pressure upon the floats, so that there will be a full pressure at all times upon one of the floats, and so avoiddeadcenter. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I Figurel represents an end view of the engine, the revolving heads which receive the power from the floats and the supply and exhaust pipes being removed. Fig. 2 represents an inside view of one of the revolving heads. Fig. 3 represents an outside View of one of the revolving heads. Fig. 4 represents the sta tionary drum, around which the floats pass. Fig. 6 represents a top view of the rotary engine, with the supply-pipes and exhaust-pipes attached in place.

In Fig. 1, 3 3 are cross-sections of the two floats, which are placed on opposite sides of the drum 13, and are driven around the drum by the force of the steam received from the supply-pipes 1 l 1 through the steam-chests 15 15. The floats are attached at each end to the revolving heads shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and the power of the enginev is transmitted from these heads by belts leading to other machinery, or by cog-wheel connections from the heads. The floats ,3 3 are the only revolving 1 parts shownin Fig. 1.

19 is the bed or leg on which the engine rests, and by which it is fastened to the solid foundation. v

11 is the outside shell of the engine.

. 13 is the stationary center drum.

10 is the steam-chamber in which the floats pass around between 11 and 13.

outside lips, (6 6 in Figs. 2 and 3,) and which regulate the supply of steam from the pipes 4 4 4 are valves which permit the floats 3 3 to pass under them, but prevent the steam received from the supply-pipes 1 l 1 in front of them from passing backward, and hold the pressure of the steam against the floats, thus driving the floats on to the next valves. The position and action of the valve 4 and the float 3 is similar to that of the cylinder-head and piston-head in a cylinder-engine.

2 2 2 are exhaust-pipes, through which the steam escapes after driving the floats from 1 1 1 forward to 2 2 2.

' 14 14 14 are boxes to receives the valves 4 4 4 when forced outward by thepassage of the In Figs. 2 and 3, 9 is the opening in the re- 7, .volving head, through which passes the shoulder 12 of the central drum, 13.

3 3 are the attachments of the floats to the revolving head.

6 6 are the projecting lips, which operate the cutoff valves, (5 5 5 in Fig. 1,) so as to admit steam at the proper time to drivethe floats from 1 1 1 to 2 2 2, and then shut it off until the next float comes to 1 l 1.

17 17 are cogs, to which cog-wheels attachments may bejoined to communicatethe power from the head.

In Fig. 4, 13 is the side of the drum, against which rests the revolving head shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

12 is the shoulder ofthe drum, projecting through the opening 9 in the revolving head.

20 is a shaft keyed fast in the .center of drum 13, by which the drum is secured to the frame of the engine. p

In Fig. 6, 1 is the steam-supply pipe coming from the boiler at 7.

2 is the exhaust-pipe receiving the steam after it has driven the float from 1 to 2. The steam passes out at 8.

5 is the cut-off valve operated by the lips,

((3 6 in Figs. 2 and 3,)regu1ating the admission of steam through 1.

12 is the projecting part of the shoulder of the drum. 5 11 is the outside shell of the engine.

15 is the steam-chest. 14 is the box of the valve i. 16 is the boss receiving the pipes. There being three equidistant points at 10 which the steam-pressure 'is applied to the floats; and only two floats, at least one of the floats must at all times be receiving the full pressure of the steam as long as the steam is turned on, and a dead-center, or a time when I 5 the engine is not receiving the full force of the steam, is not possible in this engine.

THOMAS JONES.

\Vitnesses:

J. \V. Fifi/Fox, CnAs. l). Lnoonr'r. 

